a certain
idiom
1
—used to refer to a quality that is noticed but that is difficult to explain or describe
She has a certain elegance about her.
The house has a certain charm.
2
formal
—used with the name of a person one does not know
In 1889, a certain Mr. Kelly made a large donation to the church.
Examples of a certain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Broughton points out that, in addition to infusing your surroundings with a certain vitality, shopping secondhand has environmental benefits.
—
Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 16 Dec. 2025
Despite the team’s effort to diversify the turnout, the general makeup of the crowd suggested a certain amount of self-selection.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025
Once chief executives have exercised a certain type of authority, their predecessors seldom give it back, ultimately increasing the power of the presidency.
—Stewart Ulrich, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
In California, if a driver racks up a certain number of points on their record within one, two or three years, the DMV can label them a negligent operator and suspend or even revoke their license.
—Sacbee.com, 15 Dec. 2025
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Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 16 Dec. 2025
Despite the team’s effort to diversify the turnout, the general makeup of the crowd suggested a certain amount of self-selection.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025
Once chief executives have exercised a certain type of authority, their predecessors seldom give it back, ultimately increasing the power of the presidency.
—Stewart Ulrich, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
In California, if a driver racks up a certain number of points on their record within one, two or three years, the DMV can label them a negligent operator and suspend or even revoke their license.
—Sacbee.com, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a certain
Cite this Entry
“A certain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20certain. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
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